It’s no secret that cats love treats, although the preference for taste and texture varies between individual cats. Is there a reason that cats love treats a lot, though? Why do they love treats greater than their food? Within the US alone, cat parents spend around $3 million per yr on treats, so clearly there’s something to it!
Why Do Cats Like Treats?
1. Taste
Everyone knows that “treats” often taste a lot better than the foods we eat on a regular basis, and it’s fair to assume that it’s the identical for cat treats. Nonetheless, it isn’t just the flavors within the treats that make them more appealing to your cat than their regular food.
Industrial cat treats are sometimes full of flavor enhancers. In addition they often have a powerful smell, which increases their appeal to many cats.
Treats are also nutritionally different from cat food. They’re often made with more fat and calories than cat food, making them extra tasty and appealing to your cat’s instinctual desire to eat nutrient-dense foods. Very similar to cookies, cakes, chips, and sodas for people, cat treats are formulated specifically to appeal to your cat’s palate.
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2. Texture
Some cats could also be picky about food textures, which is why some cats will only eat kibble or wet food while others will eat absolutely anything you give to them. The feel of treats can vary from liquids and mousses to crunchy or chewy. There’s definitely a treat texture to appeal to each cat! It might take a couple of tries to seek out the treats that your cat prefers, especially in the event that they’re a picky eater, but once you discover the best treat, your cat can be begging for more.
3. Relationships
Many cats like to bring dead animals or toys they’ve “hunted” to their owners. One reason they do this will likely be to copy mother-kitten instincts, as a mother cat would teach their young the right way to hunt and eat food by bringing prey for them. Cats also bring home what they’ve hunted to an area they feel protected and cozy in.
Regardless of the reasons for the ‘gifts’ your cat brings you, the ritual of giving food to others is vital for cats and other people. Once you give treats to your cat, you’re strengthening the bond between the 2 of you by not only giving your cat food but giving them food that’s designed to appeal to their senses.
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Are Treats Good for Cats?
How “good” a treat is to your cat can vary significantly between treats. Nutrient profiles and flavor profiles differ, making it difficult to overtly say that every one treats are “good” or “bad.” What could be said, though, is that treats are exactly that—treats. They usually are not intended to be a serious a part of your cat’s weight loss plan. In actual fact, treats shouldn’t make up greater than 10% of your cat’s each day calorie intake, and keeping that level closer to five% is right.
Although highly appealing to cats, treats usually are not formulated to fulfill the dietary needs of any cat. They simply don’t contain the proper levels of significant nutrients to maintain a cat healthy on their very own. When fed carefully, most treats could be considered protected to your cat.
Cats with special food needs might have special treats, so be sure to discuss with your vet about treats before offering any to your cat in the event that they’re on a special weight loss plan or have any medical conditions. Any treat could be bad for any cat if not fed to them properly. Overfeeding treats, even to healthy cats, can result in serious medical problems, especially in the long term. Obesity could be detrimental to the health of your cat, and it often goes hand in hand with other conditions, like arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes.
Can Cats on Diets Eat Treats?
Most cat treats can significantly impact the progress of your cat’s weight reduction in the event that they’re on a weight loss plan. In case your cat is under veterinary care to shed some pounds, then it is best to discuss with your vet about appropriate treats for them. Some vegetables which are high in fiber and low in calories, like green beans and broccoli, could be good treats for cats, and a few cats will eat these foods.
One of the best approach for feeding treats to a cat that should be reducing weight is to have your vet enable you to calculate the suitable calorie intake to your cat on daily basis. This may permit you to know the way many treats your cat can have per day. Just be sure to count the calories your cat consumes in treats as a part of their each day intake.
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In Conclusion
Take a look at the package of treats you get to your cat and determine what number of calories are in every treat. A 3-calorie treat has the chance to be offered very otherwise from the way you’d need to offer a treat that has 45 calories. Cats have a really low-calorie need per day in comparison with people, so it’s extremely vital to lean in your veterinarian for guidance on feeding and treating your cat appropriately. Avoid table scraps and “people foods” which have not been approved by your veterinarian, as these foods could also be dangerous to your cat.
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